Santos target Liverpool’s Lucas Leiva

Club president, Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro, has admitted that Santos tried to sign Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva during the transfer window. Ribeiro said that Santos had been in talks with the English Premier League side but that Liverpool coach Roy Hodgson had decided to keep the player.

Leiva has a contract with the Reds until 2012. Santos though, say they have not given up and will make another bid for the Brazil international before their Libertadores campaign gets underway in early 2011.

Based on the varied problems & struggles at Liverpool, it was wise of them to keep Lucas. Clearly Roy Hodgson has struggled out of the gate with injuries, dissent and player movement. He needs all the talent he can get and Lucas has, can & will be a positive asset for them. With the ownership mess added to the difficult transition Hodgson is facing this may be a lost year for the Reds. Liverpool is always under great expectations and pressure to compete successfully in the EPL & Europe. They suffered an embarrassing PR hit in losing Mascherano to Barcelona. They couldn’t afford another hit with Lucas, both on and off the pitch.